Most of the 34 spelling participants competing at Prairie County’s annual Spelling Bee last week were eliminated during the first round. Spellers were given a practice round before the official competition began.

Rounds three and four found Stickel and Strasheim dueling it out with words like curmudgeon and papyrus. Stickel took the top prize with the correct spelling of jalapeno. Along with a trophy and a Webster’s dictionary, Stickel qualifies to compete at the March 26 State Spelling Bee in Billings.